Creamer potatoes get all dressed up with an easy, knock-your-socks-off red pepper and cashew pesto. It's the perfect side dish for any occasion! Thank you to The Little Potato Company for helping me to share this recipe with you.
You know you've hit the recipe jackpot when one son abandons his soccer ball juggling marathon, the other son puts down his Nerf guns and your husband takes a hiatus from his relaxation time in the backyard...all to crowd around the kitchen table to snack on a pan of potatoes. Good food truly does have the power to bring people together, and I always insist that the food doesn't need to be anything complicated. As long as it tastes great, looks good and is made with a pinch of love, it can put a smile on anyone's face with a single bite.
So, what's the secret to this recipe?
Even though my family is obsessed with all-things-pesto, something that is known by all of our friends and family who have been fed a bowl of pesto pasta at our house, this easy side dish is not just about the pesto. The natural sweetness of the Creamer potatoes that we used seeped through the smoky, garlicky flavor of the roasted bell pepper pesto, hitting every taste sense and making us crave "just one more bite".
For this recipe, I used the Little Potato Company's Terrific Trio Creamer potatoes, but any of their Creamer varietals (Blushing Belles, Baby Boomers, Dynamic Duo and so on) would work. The potatoes in the Terrific Trio are just so darn pretty to look at, with their array of red, yellow and blue, and I knew they would be a feast for the eyes as much as the mouth when I mixed in the pesto.
Potatoes may be the most universally grown crop, but these Creamer potatoes are grown in Canada and the United States, and The Little Potato Company does not genetically modify their products. When I first saw these potatoes, I thought, "Huh...these are just new potatoes like what my Mum used to serve." Actually, other small potatoes are immature babies, harvested long before they are able to develop their flavor, which is why they're often called baby potatoes. Instead, these Creamers are bred to be small and are harvested at their peak of maturity. That explains the buttery texture and the natural sweetness. And believe me, it makes a difference in how they taste!
So, how did I make this recipe? The first step is to make the pesto. I always roast my own peppers (see How to: Roast a Bell Pepper), but the store-bought jarred variety will also work. Throw the peppers in the bowl of a food processor, along with some raw cashews, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Give it a few pulses, then slowly pour in the olive oil while the food processor is running. Voila...pesto!
If you're strong in the multi-tasking department, boil the potatoes while making the pesto. They just take about 15 minutes to become tender. Once cooked and drained, throw the potatoes into a a skillet with the warmed pesto. That's it! The perfect side dish in minutes.
Printable Recipe
Creamer Potatoes with Red Pepper Cashew Pesto
Ingredients
The Pesto:
- 2 roasted bell pepper chopped (see How to: Roast a Bell Pepper)
- 3 tablespoons raw unsalted cashews
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
The Potatoes:
- 1 ½ pounds Terrific Trio or other Little Potato Company creamer potatoes
- minced flat-leaf parsley for garnish
Instructions
The Pesto:
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the roasted red bell peppers, cashews, garlic, parsley, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Pulse until combined.
- While the food process is running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
The Potatoes:
- Place the potatoes in a large pot of cold, lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium-high and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Take care not to overcook so that the potatoes do not start to fall apart.
- Drain the potatoes.
- Transfer the pesto to a large skillet and warm the pesto over medium heat.
- Add the potatoes and stir to coat.
- Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
My boys love potatoes like there's no tomorrow!!! I love pesto + potatoes but your red pepper cashew pesto really makes it to a new level. So impressed Dara!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
And I'll bet that pesto is also good on pasta, on pizza or flatbread, dolloped on a hard boiled egg....
Ashley @ Wishes & DIshes
I also love how food brings people together!! It's so true!! I need to try these potatoes right away!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Your pest sounds out of this world good! What a gorgeous side dish!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Wow Dara! This sounds amazing! I am obsessed with red peppers, could put them on everything! Totally need to make this with a big juicy steak! That is called dinner perfection! YUM!
Dara
I feel the same way about red peppers (and pesto!) And yes, these potatoes are just begging for a steak to accompany them.
Stephanie
Oh yum! I am loving the crust on these mmmmmm!
Dara
Thank you, Stephanie.
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
I love that pesto! What a great side dish that could be the star of a meal.
Dara
Thanks, Erin. I would happily eat a whole pan of these for dinner. 🙂
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
I love The Little Potato Company and their creamers! The perfect potato in my opinon. And then with cashew pesto? That right there is just incr-EDIBLEy genius! Pinned!
Dara
The Creamer potatoes really are awesome, aren't they? And yes, you can't beat eating them with cashew pesto!
Liz
SO flavorful and irresistible! I"m going to hunt down these new potatoes!!!
Dara
Thanks, Liz! I promise you won't be disappointed. The flavor and texture of these Creamer potatoes are out of this world. There is a store locator on the Little Potato Co. site to make things easier: http://www.littlepotatoes.com/products/store-locator.php
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella)
These potatoes sound incredible. I adore pesto, and creamer potatoes -- YUM! And I love what you said about food bringing people together. It's so true.
Dara
Thanks, Sarah. There's nothing like good food to bring them flocking to the table! 🙂